Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I regret that the Minister is not present, particularly in view of the fact that this is not only an issue of national interest but also one of particular interest to him and to those in my constituency. Cork City Council recently passed a vote, proposed by Councillor Ted Tynan, seeking an increase in the income limits or the maximum eligibility threshold for social housing in the Cork city area. I would go even further. It is high time there was a far broader review of the rental limits in all local authority areas, especially large urban areas and those areas around the fringes of the major cities. The previous occasion on which limits were set was in 2011. Let us set out the context. Following everything that has happened since then, more and more young families, many of whom are known to the Minister and me, are trapped in the rental sector or in the homes of their parents and have few options given that they cannot get onto social housing lists. For those above the income limits by small or marginal amounts, the options are especially limited. Those affected are largely confined to the rental sector or family homes. For those who may have a desire to work towards a mortgage, the 10% deposit required is singularly difficult for them to put together. In large urban areas, such as Cork, a deposit could be in the amount of €20,000 or €25,000. Frankly, this Government has done nothing for this category of people. They are only marginally above the income limits. Many of them are still on low incomes.

There is a particular context to the problem in respect of Cork, namely, the boundaries relating to Cork City Council that are completely out of date. Large urban areas of Cork city are essentially in the Cork County Council bailiwick, such as parts of Togher, Douglas, Rochestown, Grange and Frankfield. There is 80 m between the Greenwood and Westside estates in Togher, but a difference of €5,000 in the income threshold applicable. A distance of 180 m separates Willow Park in Douglas and Douglas West Street in the village, but the income threshold is the same or even €6,000, depending on the size of the family. It is a particular issue and a serious anomaly for those areas.

In general, the thresholds are far too low. This reflects a failure on the part of the Government to recognise that this category of individuals exists and is growing. These people have few options and the Government is doing nothing for them. I imagine the Minister will say a change would result in an increase in the housing lists, and I appreciate that point. However, I would not criticise the Government for an increase on that basis. While those affected might not be to the front of the queue - I would not expect them to be to the front of the queue - eligibility is vital for their ability to draw down payments, such as the housing assistance payment. Currently, that payment is closed off to them. Their ability to build up time credit, which is more and more important in social housing allocation, is inhibited.

There is a serious need to do something for this category of low and middle-income families for whom mortgages are out of the question. They are under severe pressure because of the rental market. Social housing is supposed to provide security and rent stability. These people deserve the benefits to which I refer but are denied access to them. That is wrong and it needs to be reviewed.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I apologise that the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government cannot be here to take this matter, which I thank the Deputy for raising.

On 1 April 2011, the social housing assessment regulations introduced a new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. The aim of the new system is to move closer to a transparent, consistent and fairer approach to eligibility for social housing. The regulations include maximum net income limits for each housing authority in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy. Before the new scheme was put in place, there was considerable inconsistency in the various local authorities. Some authorities had income limits for social housing while others had none. The way income was assessed for limits varied widely, with different disregards and policies in various housing authorities. This meant that applicants for support who were on similar incomes could be treated differently because of where they happened to live. This approach was neither efficient nor fair. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of income needed to provide for a household's basic need plus a comprehensive analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation throughout the country. As a result, higher limits generally apply in urban areas than in surrounding areas, such as in Cork. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced before the new scheme came into operation. The purpose was to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote support for sustainable communities.

Under the household means policy, which applies in all housing authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. Most payments received from the Department of Social Protection are assessable. The policy provides for a range of income disregards. Housing authorities can disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support.

I am satisfied that the current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this aim. However, I welcome the opportunity to hear the views of the Deputy on these issues. They will be considered in the context of the ongoing review of social housing assessment procedures as part of the broader social housing reform agenda.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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What caught my eye in the Minister of State's response was the following:

Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. I am satisfied that the current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this.

What that says is that for families that are essentially in Cork city, in some of the most of the competitive and expensive markets such as Rochestown, Togher, Douglas, Grange or even Carrigaline or Ballincollig, it is acceptable or reasonable to expect that a family of two adults and three children would be responsible for organising their own accommodation and would be obliged to find a mortgage out of an income above a mere €33,750. That is for a two-adult family. The other options are to spend the rest of their lives in the rental market or be cast back on their families. That is utterly unfair and unreasonable.

I again urge the Minister to consider a review of the income limits for social housing. The limits are absolutely unreasonable. If that is not possible, the alternative models that have been talked about to some extent are way behind track, such as the cost rental model. There is a review due to come back at the end of this year. That is quite some time before there will be any real action.

I also urge the Minister to consider some flexibility in the boundaries of local authority areas. There are about 50,000 people in and around the fringes of Cork city that are essentially part of the Cork city housing market. The boundaries have not been revised since the 1960s and that is another day's problem. For those people, they are living in the second most competitive housing market in the State. Yet, they are dealing with income limits that are €5,000 to €6,000 below estates that are just up the road. It is impossible for them to secure any kind of long-term accommodation on those rental limits. Some kind of flexibility absolutely has to be considered for that southern division of Cork County Council.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy's concerns and have noted many points he has raised, which I will bring back to the Minister. I am satisfied that the current income limit generally provides for a fair and equal system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. These limits generally provide that a household in receipt of social welfare will not breach the threshold. I refer to the fact that the 2016 summary of social housing assessment reported that, of households on waiting lists nationally, slightly more than two thirds or 67% were entirely dependent on social welfare. I am also satisfied that these income bands and the authority area assigned to each band are based on the true access of income needed to provide for a household base, as well as on the comprehensive analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country.

However, as the Minister has indicated, the issues raised today will be examined as part of the ongoing review of the social housing assessment process that is under way, which will consider whether there are disparities across local authority housing that discriminate unfairly against certain classes of household. I know that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, would be happy to consider any general issues of which the Deputy is aware. However, the Minister is precluded from becoming involved in a specified application for housing to a local authority.

I also express my concern to Deputy Ó Laoghaire. I myself have met many young people in a predicament in which they may be a little over the threshold at which social housing is provided and find that they cannot be included on the list. On a personal basis, I will certainly raise the issue with the Minister myself. I apologise again that he cannot be here this afternoon.